by Lisa Hinton-Valdrighi
LANCASTER—Lancaster County Commonwealth’s Attorney Anthony G. Spencer will not prosecute a highly controversial and much-publicized involuntary manslaughter case against a Richmond man.
Retired Judge Charles Poston of Norfolk ruled in favor of a motion to disqualify Spencer as prosecutor in the case against John Randolph “Rand” Hooper of Richmond. Hooper is charged with involuntary manslaughter and failure to render aid in connection with the death of his friend, Graham McCormick of Atlanta.
Judge Poston on Thursday, September 10, ruled in Lancaster County Circuit Court to remove Spencer and appoint a special prosecutor.
McCormick’s body was found in Carter Creek in August 2017. According to a state medical examiner, he drowned as the result of trauma sustained in a boating accident. Although Hooper initially said he couldn’t recall who was driving the boat at the time of the accident, he later pleaded guilty to two felony charges.
During the course of the three-year court proceedings, three different judges have ruled on the case… [to-view-more]